Ding Junhui

Ding Junhui (Chinese: 丁俊晖; Pinyin D?ng Jùnhu?) (born April 1 1987) is a Chinese snooker player, born near Shanghai and now resident in England.

Related Topics:
Chinese - Pinyin - April 1 - 1987 - Chinese - Snooker - Shanghai - England

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Junhui started playing snooker at the age of 9 when he joined his father and his friends while he was bored. He practices the game 8 hours every day and in 2003 he became the number one ranked player in China.

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Junhui shot to international prominence in 2002, when he won the Asian under-21 championship, the Asian Championship, and the IBSF World under-21 championship. He was unable to progress much in 2003 as both the Asian Championship and under-21 Championship had to be cancelled because of the SARS virus crisis, but he was a semi-finalist in the IBSF World under-21 championship and was awarded a Main Tour concession by the World Snooker Association which enabled him to turn professional in September 2003.

Related Topics:
2002 - 2003 - SARS

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In February 2004 Junhui was awarded a wildcard entry to the Masters in London, where in the first round he defeated the world no. 16-ranked player, Joe Perry, before narrowly losing in the second round to Stephen Lee. His performance favourably impressed many commentators who have rated him a likely future World Champion.

Related Topics:
2004 - Masters - Joe Perry - Stephen Lee

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In March 2005 he celebrated his 18th birthday by reaching the final of the China Open in Beijing, along the way defeating world top-16 ranked players Peter Ebdon, Marco Fu, and Ken Doherty. He played the final with world no-3 ranked Stephen Hendry, whom he beat by 9 frames to 5 to score his first ranking tournament win.

Related Topics:
2005 - China Open - Beijing - Peter Ebdon - Marco Fu - Ken Doherty - Stephen Hendry

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